Aaaand we're back! Hey, look at us. Who would've thought? Not me. But here we are, back to the NBA only 72 days after the Lakers won the 2020 NBA championship. Talk about Christmas magic!
The quick return of the NBA season after its historic success of the 2020 bubble experience comes with a wide range of emotions. Am I happy? YES. Am I scared? Also YES. Am I still dealing with the emotional turmoil of the Lakers winning the NBA title? BIG YES. The only person I can muster any happiness for among the Lakers team, staff, fan base, and the entire city of Los Angeles is this man:
Small apologies to Frank Vogel and Anthony Davis, who have my respect and appreciation, but this is all grossly overriden by my disdain for the Los Angeles Lakers as a whole.
While getting the NBA back on Christmas Eve Eve Eve is a delight, I can't help but feel apprehensive about that one thing that dismantled the whole NBA season in the first place... what was it again? Oh, right. A GLOBAL PANDEMIC. I understand there's been a disgusting lack of leadership in our country in demonstrating how to respond to such an unprecedented thing and so we all have differing feelings about the coronavirus. But this is MY dumb blog so you get to hear my take on it:
I get that everyone has had different experiences with the coronavirus and the ensuing pandemic. On one end, some people are hardly affected - working from home is easy, wearing a mask to go to the store isn't considered a huge infringement of their constitutional rights to be ridiculous, and even if someone in their inner circle has contracted the virus, the symptoms were mild and life quickly continued on. On the other end, some people have suffered traffic loss, hardship, and pain - losing loved ones, losing patients, losing businesses, losing jobs, losing homes, losing sleep, losing mental health, etc. Within the NBA, Karl-Anthony Towns has lost seven family members in the past year to coronavirus. While many of us may not feel immediately threatened by this pandemic, it's important to remember that others have had extremely different and traumatic experiences with it. So to take this situation lightly and without thoughtful care is disrespectful to the unimaginable suffering others have experienced because of it. In short, just think beyond your own reality, wear a mask, and don't be a dick.
WHEW, glad I got that out. So, moving forward, I believe in the NBA to do all it can to prevent the spread of the virus (continuous testing, mask requirements, no fans, etc.). However, let's be real. James Harden was just clubbin' in Atlanta and Vegas in lieu of reporting to training camp, which resulted in the postponement of the Rockets and Thunder season opener on just the second night of the NBA season. It's going to be impossible to keep all NBA players in their own individual bubbles, so the risk is inevitable. Anything short of recreating the Orlando bubble, which is infeasible, opens the doors for potential spread. So I am happy, nervous, excited, terrified, hyped, and fatigued all at the same time.
The Backdrop
The Sacramento Kings had a newsworthy offseason. First, almost immediately after the conclusion of the bubble season, Vlade Divac made the best move in his GM career by sticking to his word and stepping down after another two years of bleak basketball under his leadership. In a world where personal accountability from our leaders is a rarity, Vlade Divac is a modern day hero. Monte McNair, previously Daryl Morey's assistant GM in Houston, has filled the Kings' GM position.
The Kings were then involved in a fumbled deal with the Milwaukee Bucks in a potential sign-and-trade with Bogdan Bogdanovic. In the end, the Kings lost Bogi to a 4-year, $72 million deal with the Atlanta Hawks that they declined to match and the Bucks lost their 2022 2nd-round pick. The entire development of that whole story just felt so... Kangz.
While Bogi is a big loss, the Kings also made some positive moves in the offseason, with the biggest being the absolute steal at the 12th pick in the draft of Tyrese Haliburton. I'm not a big college basketball viewer, so my opinion is solely based on his preseason showing, but I'm getting some serious Doug Christie vibes from this kid. The athleticism, the defensive instinct, and the resemblance all make 10-year old Mirann's heart flutter. Other notable additions include the return of Hassan Whiteside on a 1-year, $2.3 million contract along with Alvin Gentry as assistant to Luke Walton. My hope with that one is that Al just sticks his hand up Luke's ass and puppet masters us to some offensive success. However, with Luke and Al (or secretly just Al?) leading us, the question still remains: Who in the world is going to teach this team how to play defense? And finally, crossing my finger and toes, knocking on wood, and saying a prayer, Marvin Bagley III has survived preseason action and is actually healthy and ready to play.
The Denver Nuggets are coming off of a huge run in the bubble. I was ecstatic to see Mike Malone enjoying a water bottle shower from his team in the locker room after overcoming not one, but TWO 3-1 series deficits to make it to the Western Conference Finals. Led by the giant Joker and cold-blooded Jamal Murray, the Nuggets have proven they are not to be trifled with.
Some notable changes to the Nuggets' roster include the losses of Jerami Grant and Mason Plumlee and the additions of RJ Hampton and Facundo Campazzo.
I'm not well-versed in the betting world, but I think it's safe to say that the Nuggets are favored to win his game. But, HEY, it's a new season. Who knows what could happen?
Quick Stats
Because numbers make things make sense.
Outcome: Kings win in OT, 124-122
Sacramento Kings: 124 PTS, 44.6% FG, 32.3% 3PT, 27 AST, 14 TO
Denver Nuggets: 122 PTS, 48.0% FG, 27.6% 3PT, 29 AST, 15 TO
Buddy Hield (SAC): 22 PTS, 3 AST
Nikola Jokic (DEN): 29 PTS, 15 REB, 14 AST
WOW. Cardiac Kings are back and serving out heart attacks across the greater Sacramento area. How can I even describe the finale of that game? I had almost forgotten all the emotions that I can feel through the span of one Sacramento Kings game.
The 4th quarter set me up with a familiar sense of disappointment as the Nuggets chipped away at our lead and ultimately forced overtime. The extra five-minute period prepped me for one of two outcomes: double overtime or dagger in the heart from Nikola Jokic in the final six seconds of play. What I was NOT prepared for was a scrappy strip from Harrison Barnes, picked up by Fox, passed ahead to Barnes, a missed dunk off the back rim, and buzzer beater tip in by none other than BUDDY FREAKIN HIELD.
I scared my dogs with my screams and I am currently sweating with excitement as I write this but it is all worth it because Christmas came early for us, Kings fans!
Even though this is just the first game, this is a huge win for the Kings. On the road, against a playoff team and future Hall of Famer, and competing and closing out for all 53 minutes - these all give the Kings the confidence they need in starting this new season. I hope to one day look back on this game as a pivotal turning point for the Sacramento Kings in their upward trajectory toward long-awaited success.
The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly
Because all three are consistent parts of Kings basketball.
The Good:
Tyrese Haliburton: To say I am excited about our rookie is an understatement. The last few times the Kings had a sub-5th 1st-round pick resulted in Willie Cauley-Stein in 2015 (6th) and Nik Staukas in 2014 (8th). We all know how those turned out. So to get a talent like Tyrese at the 12th pick in what's considered a weaker draft class feels beyond promising for the Kings. Along with hitting two HUGE 3s in crunch time, he's also demonstrated a natural basketball instinct and a mature presence on the court.
Bagley is FUN: I get goosebumps when I see Bagley snag a high rebound and immediately put the ball on the floor and head the other way. I get butterflies when he teardrops the ball in on one of those short baseline jumpers. I have heart palpitations when he rips the ball through at the high post and attacks the basket. It's so fun to see all the great things he can do. I can't wait to see him and Fox figure out some chemistry in transition - I daydream about a Bagley rebound, two dribbles up the middle, quick pass to De'Aaron on the wing, burners are engaged for an easy deuce, and everyone else has yet to cross half court. *SWOON*
Bjelica's Haircut: Nemanja was bestowed with the Royal Court Jester cap in one of the bubble games for his refusal to go to the bubble barbershop and apparently being content with resembling Shaggy Rogers. I hypothesized that the sheer weight of his hair may have been contributing to his slow movements on defense. I can only conclude that Bjeli is an avid ready of this dumb blog and that's the only reason why he is now rocking a sharp, clean-cut look again.
The Bad:
4th Quarter Crunch: In every 4th quarter of a close game, I think of my cousin, Jenna, and her superstitious belief that the first team to score 100 points will win. When Buddy sank a 3 with 8:41 left to lift the Kings to a 100-92 lead, I thought of her. I really really really wanted to believe Jenna, but the 4th quarter felt too familiar. The last five minutes of regulation really highlighted the difference between the Nuggets, a seasoned playoff team, and the Kings, who have missed the playoffs for the last half of my life. When the Nuggets showed methodical and intentional offensive possessions, the Kings fell victim to their nerves and seemed rushed and frantic. This was seen in the Kings' final opportunity to win in regulation that sadly resulted in a stripped ball from Buddy's hands.
The Ugly:
Defensive Miscommunications: The Kings defense actually looked better than I anticipated (though, my expectations were pretty low). They even executed some good zone defense in the second half. There were, however, some miscommunications and obvious breakdowns. In the first half, there were a few instances where they would double Jokic in the high post - this was both useless, because he is almost literally a giant, and also foolish, since he's one of the best passers in the league. Other instances where switches weren't properly communicated resulted in easy points for the Nuggets.
Royal Court Jester
Because someone is always actin' a fool.
New season means new foolish acts! Let's start this season's segment mildly. Today's Royal Court Jester goes to De'Aaron Fox for making it all the way onto the court during a substitution and being completely ready to restart play before realizing he still had his mask on.
For a split second, I thought he wasn't going to take it off. He quickly realized and tossed the mask to the sideline, but not fast enough to avoid some chuckles from Doug Christie and Mark Jones. I won't ride this one out too much, since De'Aaron was following protocol and science and I respect that.
The King of Kings
Because at lest one person does at least one good thing, usually.
Man, oh, man am I happy to bestow the season opener of the King of Kings crown to someone who bathed in my wrath for most of the bubble season. Buddy Buckets Hield, congratulations on your first King of Kings award. Not only did you make this the best possible start to my long weekend by winning the game, but overall you just looked BETTER.
I noticed this in the preseason as well - Buddy must also be a voracious reader of this dumb blog because he seems to be heeding my advice of not dribbling the basketball. Especially when Fox is facilitating, Buddy is taking in-rhythm spot up 3s or quickly moving the ball if he doesn't have daylight. As long as Buddy keeps knocking down 3s and limiting his dribbling and turnovers, I see more opportunities for him to be on the floor to make more game-winning plays.
But for now, enjoy this night, and as the terrific Mark Jones called the play, "RUN, BUDDY, RUN!"
Up Next
Saturday, December 26th vs. Phoenix Suns @ 7:00 P.M. (PT)
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